The instant torque of electric vehicles is not only great because it’s fun, but it can also be safer if you know how to use it. The most common example is when overtaking a vehicle on the highway, but if you have a quick reaction time, it can also move you away from an impending crash.

In similar though less fortunate situation since it did end up in a crash – just not for the Tesla, another Tesla owner used his vehicle’s instant torque in order to avoid having to bring the car to the body shop.

Maaz Jilani was driving his Model X on the highway with the Autopilot disengaged when an SUV two cars behind him rear-ended a sedan which in turn rear-ended the car behind his Model X and that is when he pressed the accelerator – tire screeching – and barely escaped being in turn rear-ended.

The accident was captured by the dashcam of another vehicle and he shared it on Youtube:

While Jilani’s quick reaction time certainly made this possible, it’s not clear if it would have been possible without the Model X’s instant torque since it looks like the car was really inches away from the rear bumper of the all-electric SUV by the time he started accelerating.

The 3-car fender bender almost turned into a 4-car fender bender.

Update: Jilani commented on the article and confirmed that the vehicle actually slightly touched his Model X’s rear bumper:

“I did try to sprint away but unfortunately it very touched me barley. The black plastic part has two screw indentations, so it’s extremely minimal damage. It could have been much worse if I hadn’t accelerated.”